Afghanistan: Taliban administration to send aid to Turkey, Syria following devastating earthquake

The governing Taliban administration of Afghanistan announced that they would be sending assistance to Turkey and Syria as both countries were affected by a deadly earthquake. The earthquake has left thousands dead, with rescue operations ongoing.

The Afghan foreign affairs ministry issued a statement on Tuesday announcing that it would be sending over $150,000 to Turkey and Syria to aid in the ongoing response efforts following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the two countries this week. The death toll from the earthquake as of Tuesday went up to 7,800 people as rescuers continue efforts to dig out survivors of the tremor. Tens of thousands of others were injured, and many were left homeless as a result of the calamity.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan…announces a relief package of 10 million Afghanis and 5 million Afghanis to Turkiye and Syria respectively on the basis of shared humanity and Islamic brotherhood,” said the statement.

The announcement comes amidst a time when Afghanistan is also experiencing an economic and humanitarian crisis since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021 on the heels of the military withdrawal of foreign forces. This resulted in the enforcement of sanctions on Afghanistan’s banking sector, and the international community has not recognized the Taliban-run government.

Hundreds of Afghans have also perished in recent weeks due to the harsh weather and the economic crisis. Despite the cut in development funding that once made up a significant part of Afghanistan’s state budget, the World Bank said in a report that the Taliban administration has ramped up exports, some of which are coal to Pakistan, with revenue collection remaining strong such as customs duties and mining royalties.

On Monday, the Taliban administration said Saudi diplomats have left the country for “training” and will return.

However, three sources familiar with the matter said the departure of the Saudi diplomats was due to security concerns. A diplomatic source and two others said Saudi Arabia’s diplomats left Afghanistan by air and relocated to Pakistan due to the warnings of increased risks of attacks in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul.

It remains to be determined how many diplomats left the country or how long the diplomats plan to be based outside Afghanistan.